Can you use 3M clear bra on windshield?

[majdoob]

I just spent a small fortune replacing my cracked windshield with a genuine HONDA windshield (took two weeks to get it) and am in no hurry to go through that again. So, since many owners have had good luck keep nasty rocks at bay using the clear bra solution, I was wondering if you could apply it on a windsield. Is it possible, legal, and practical?

 

[rbirling]

I would guess it's possible, not-legal, and not very practical. The plastic film would get dinged up pretty quickly and not be very clear for long, I would expect. :frown:

 

[peiserg]

I just spent a small fortune replacing my cracked windshield with a genuine HONDA windshield (took two weeks to get it) and am in no hurry to go through that again. So, since many owners have had good luck keep nasty rocks at bay using the clear bra solution, I was wondering if you could apply it on a windsield. Is it possible, legal, and practical?

whywould you bother with a honda windshield? i think i paid 300 for my safelite installed at my house. and it was available the next day...

 

[majdoob]

Short story: I got the Honda windshield paid for by Safelite because they are incompetent idiots. Here was my ordeal:

I called Safelite and had them search for a windshield. They ended up bringing the wrong one. Then the came back with another one about 8 days later. The insaller came to my house, removed the old windshiled and then as he was removing the stickers from the new windshield, he noticed two big chips under the sticker at the very top edge of the windshield. It was obvious that someone at the warehouse put the sticker on top of these chips in the hope that a novice installer would not notice or think that it was ok to install it. The installer refused to install this defective windshield because he thought it might crack soon after installation. (The installer was very professional about his work and I appreciated his integrity). I called the manager and she said that it was shipped from another location and she didn't know it was chipped, so they ordered another windshield for me. One week later it arrived and I got a call from Safelite saying it was here. 10 minutes after that, I got another call from Safelite saying that the warehouse worker just broke my new windshield after trying to remove it from the packaging. At that point, I was without my car for about 3 weeks and was getting frustrated. I told Safelite that I was tired of their incompetence and wanted the local Acura dealer to get me a new Honda replacement and have Safelite pay for it. They agreed to this and I just got my windshield this week. I have a pretty demanding job and my time is very limited, so my time costs me money, literally. Even though there was not a lot of direct cost out of my pocket (other than deductible) I estimate my lost time cost me about $1000. (A dozen phone calls and sitting around my house waiting for them to show up over the course of nearly 4 weeks)

 

[clr1024]

I just spent a small fortune replacing my cracked windshield with a genuine HONDA windshield (took two weeks to get it) and am in no hurry to go through that again. So, since many owners have had good luck keep nasty rocks at bay using the clear bra solution, I was wondering if you could apply it on a windsield. Is it possible, legal, and practical?

I am not sure how good it would look. All of the clear bra installs have a sort of orange peel to them which I have seen, they are not clear like tinted film is. If yo u look at a car that has a clear bra and move from the painted surface to the bra you will see s difference in finish. I don't think it would be that good optically but maybe a clear bra installer can answer this question for you.

 

[Ski_Banker]

Why not just smear vaseline over your eyes before driving? This is - quite possibly - the dumbest idea I've ever heard.

 

[Ski_Banker]

Yes. Yes it is. This is THE dumbest idea I have ever heard. Truly historic moment.

 

[peiserg]

Why not just smear vaseline over your eyes before driving? This is - quite possibly - the dumbest idea I've ever heard.

sorry mr. banker. not quite.

Unwrapping a rope that got tangled around a boat propellor (with the motor still running) is probably quite a bit dumber than that. Now lucky for me this dumb bastard has good health insurance.

 

[Ski_Banker]

sorry mr. banker. not quite.

Unwrapping a rope that got tangled around a boat propellor (with the motor still running) is probably quite a bit dumber than that. Now lucky for me this dumb bastard has good health insurance.

Whoa, yeah that's right up there too. Glad they could sew at least one finger back on - high five! :wink: Glad you're ok and not driving an automatic, seriously.

I've had way plenty of bonehead moves too, but all in my youth. Been at least a month. :biggrin:

 

[Spinner]

I think a bigger concern would be if you got into an accident. Would the paramedic or firefighters be able to get you out? I'm guessing that a clear bra would impede the rescue operations. If I'm not mistaken, the glass in cars are designed to break into small beads (tempered or whatever).

Having an extra layer of film might make it extremely difficult to get through to you. Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[rbirling]

You're wrong. :smile: Windshields have a layer of plastic in them already to keep them from breaking up. But it's in between the glass layers where it can't get marked up, like a layer on the outside would.

Having an extra layer of film might make it extremely difficult to get through to you. Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[Spinner]

You're wrong. :smile: Windshields have a layer of plastic in them already to keep them from breaking up. But it's in between the glass layers where it can't get marked up, like a layer on the outside would.

Right on. Thanks for clearing it up.:smile:

 

[Gansan]

It's not that dumb an idea, just needs the right material:

http://www.protint.com/ProShieldRacingTear-Off.ivnu

Teams in NASCAR and other series use windshield tear-offs to protect and clear windshields of gunk during pit stops, just like helmet visors. There was an article about it in Race Tech magazine some months back. Unfortunately, the product is not legal for street use.

 

[nsxtasy]

whywould you bother with a honda windshield?

Some aftermarket windshields have been found to be optically distorted. Honda windshields have not.

Yes. Yes it is. This is THE dumbest idea I have ever heard. Truly historic moment.

Sounds like you haven't read about all the Darwin award winners and nominees.

 

[NSX-GUY]

Whoa, yeah that's right up there too. Glad they could sew at least one finger back on - high five! :wink:

Ummmmm, wouldn't that be "High ONE" ??? :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

 

[Ski_Banker]

Sounds like you haven't read about all the Darwin award winners and nominees.

Damn Ken, that's a pretty sick website! Pretty funny though. :smile: Speaking of Darwin, man has this thread evolved into a different beast!

 

[nsxtcy85]

I think a bigger concern would be if you got into an accident. Would the paramedic or firefighters be able to get you out? I'm guessing that a clear bra would impede the rescue operations. If I'm not mistaken, the glass in cars are designed to break into small beads (tempered or whatever).

Having an extra layer of film might make it extremely difficult to get through to you. Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

If i crashed my nsx i would want to go down with it. lol :tongue:

 

[fannsx]

I think a bigger concern would be if you got into an accident. Would the paramedic or firefighters be able to get you out? I'm guessing that a clear bra would impede the rescue operations. If I'm not mistaken, the glass in cars are designed to break into small beads (tempered or whatever).

Having an extra layer of film might make it extremely difficult to get through to you. Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

I think only the side windows are tempered. Maybe the back window too.
The plastic firm will get pretty scratched up if you use the wipers a few times. Not a good idea.

 

[Bob Kenney]

Is it possible, legal, and practical?

It would seem the consensus of opinions is: No, it is neither practical nor legal.
Best of luck avoiding those rocks.

 

[majdoob]

Guys, thanks for the feedback.

Gansan, thanks for the link...this is what I was thinking about. I know I have heard of some type of "add-on" windshield protection similar to what is described on the site, but didn't have much to go on and was not aware of the drawbacks.

Ken, my previous windshield suffered from the "distortion" you describe and all of my passengers would complain about it. The new Honda windshield if perfect and as far as I can tell has no distortion anywhere.

Banker, when I posed this question, I was operating under the belief that there was some kind of windshield protection available and that assuming it might be functional, was curious as to wether or not it would be legal for street use. If based on those assumptions, you conclude this to be a dumb idea, then I thank you for your feedback.

 

[Ski_Banker]

Guys, thanks for the feedback.

Gansan, thanks for the link...this is what I was thinking about. I know I have heard of some type of "add-on" windshield protection similar to what is described on the site, but didn't have much to go on and was not aware of the drawbacks.

Ken, my previous windshield suffered from the "distortion" you describe and all of my passengers would complain about it. The new Honda windshield if perfect and as far as I can tell has no distortion anywhere.

Banker, when I posed this question, I was operating under the belief that there was some kind of windshield protection available and that assuming it might be functional, was curious as to wether or not it would be legal for street use. If based on those assumptions, you conclude this to be a dumb idea, then I thank you for your feedback.

No worries bro, when I think of Clear Bra I think of "Ski Saver" which is probably the same thick crap that ruins alpine skis for the benefit of goofy knee'd Texas ski tourists. Either way, it's expensive stuff, so just wanting it for convenience doesn't make a lot of sense. Maybe just find a more efficient way of replacing windshields (probably be a while anyway since little chips can just be filled in) if your local guys are morons. Maybe give 'em a 100 if they bring good glass to your workplace and do the work there, in the future.

BTW, what is MajDoob? I thought this was a troll posting... seriously.

 

[ANYTIME]

Some aftermarket windshields have been found to be optically distorted. Honda windshields have not.

Aftermarket glass has also been known to not have the VIN window.

 

[clarknm]

I believe "Rock Blocker" in AZ was experimenting with this, they had issues with the windshield wipers messing up the film over time. They started looking at it again in AZ because it hardly ever rains there (I took the wipers off my TL most of the 3 years I was there). Since the wipers are off my NSX and the washer fluid nozzle holes filled in, I think it would be a good idea for my NSX .

Obviously it couldn't be a film that would impede vision, but who in the world said film has to impede vision? I tinted my windshield in Vegas and that actually improved my vision. Because there was less contrast with the sides that way, I guess

 

[majdoob]

Banker, no sweat.

Majdoob is Arabic for "nuts or crazy".